und for his chief opponent。 Seeing a yellow flag moving along quietly； he concluded that Zhuge Liang was with it and so followed it。 When the flag had gone over the shoulder of a hill it stopped。 Then suddenly as if the earth had opened and swallowed it up； the four…wheeled carriage disappeared； while in its place came a ferocious warrior； with a long serpent halberd in his hand and mounted on a curvetting steed。 It was Zhang Fei； who dashed at Xing Darong with a tremendous roar。
Nothing daunted； Xing Darong whirled up his battle…ax and went to meet Zhang Fei。 But after four or five bouts； Xing Darong saw that there was no chance of victory for him； so he turned his horse and ran。 Zhang Fei pursued； the air shaking with the thunder of his voice。 Then the ambushing troops appeared。 Xing Darong； nothing daunted； rushed into their midst。
But in front appeared another warrior barring the way； who called out； 〃Do you know me？ I am Zhao Yun of Changshan。〃
Xing Darong knew that all was over。 He could neither fight nor fly。 So he dismounted and gave in。 He was fettered and taken to camp； where were Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang。 Liu Bei ordered him out to execution； but Zhuge Liang hastily checked him。
〃We will accept your submission if you capture Liu Xiang for us；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
The captive accepted the offer without the least hesitation。
When Zhuge Liang asked how he intended to do it； he replied； 〃If you will set me free； I shall be cunning of speech。 If you raid the camp this evening； you will find me your helper on the inside。 I will make Liu Xiang a prisoner and will hand him over to you。 He being captured； his father will surrender at once。〃
Liu Bei doubted the good faith of the man； but Zhuge Liang said； 〃Xing Darong is not deceiving。〃
Wherefore Xing Darong was set free and went back to camp； where he related all that had occurred。
〃What can we do？〃 asked Liu Xiang。
〃We can meet trick with trick。 Put soldiers in ambush tonight outside our camp while within everything will appear as usual。 When Zhuge Liang es we shall capture him。〃
The ambush was prepared。 At the second watch an army came out of the darkness and appeared in the gate。 Each carried a torch and they began to set fire to all about them。 Out dashed Liu Xiang and Xing Darong； and the incendiaries forthwith fled。 The two warriors pursued them； but the fugitives ran and then suddenly disappeared at about three miles from the camp。
Much surprised the two turned to wend their way back to their own camp。 It was still burning for no one had extinguished the flames。 Soon from behind them came out Zhang Fei。
Liu Xiang called out to his panion； saying； 〃Do not enter the burning camp； but to go to attack Zhuge Liang's stockade。〃
Thereupon they turned again； but at a distance of three miles Zhao Yun and an army suddenly debouched upon their road。 Zhao Yun attacked and slew Xing Darong by a spear thrust。 Liu Xiang turned to flee； but Zhang Fei was close upon him and made him prisoner。 He was thrown across a horse； bound； and taken to camp。
When he saw Zhuge Liang； Liu Xiang said； 〃The ruse was Xing Darong's evil counsel。 I was forced to follow。〃
Zhuge Liang ordered them to loose his bonds； had him properly dressed； and gave him wine to cheer him and help him forget his troubles。 When he was recovered； he was told to go to his father and persuade him to yield。
〃And if he does not； the city shall be destroyed and everyone put to death；〃 said Zhuge Liang as Liu Xiang left。
The son returned to the city and told his father these things。 Liu Du at once decided to yield and forthwith hoisted the flag of surrender； opened the gates； and went out taking his seal of office with him。 He was reappointed to his governorship； but his son was sent to Jingzhou for service with the army。
The people of Lingling all rejoiced greatly at the change of rulers。 Liu Bei entered the city； calmed and reassured the people； and rewarded his army。
But he at once began to think of the next move and asked for an officer to volunteer to take Guiyang。 Zhao Yun offered； but Zhang Fei vehemently proposed himself for the mand of the expedition。 So they wrangled and contended。
Then said Zhuge Liang； 〃Undoubtedly Zhao Yun was first to volunteer； wherefore he is to go。〃
Still Zhang Fei opposed and insisted on going。 They were told to decide the dispute by drawing lots； and Zhao Yun drew the winning lot。
Zhang Fei was still very angry and grumbled； 〃I would not have wanted any helpers： Just three thousand soldiers and I would have done it。〃
〃I also only want three thousand soldiers；〃 said Zhao Yun。 〃And if I fail； I am willing to suffer the penalties。〃
Zhuge Liang was pleased that Zhao Yun recognized his responsibility so fully； and with the mission he gave Zhao Yun three thousand of veterans。
Though the matter was thus settled； Zhang Fei was discontented and pressed his claim till Liu Bei bade him desist and retire。
With his three thousand troops； Zhao Yun took the road to Guiyang。 The Governor； Zhao Fan； soon heard of his approach and hastily called his officers to take counsel。 Two of them； Chen Ying and Bao Long； offered to meet the invaders and turn them back。
These two warriors belonged to Guiyang and had made themselves famous as hunters。 Chen Ying used a 〃Flying Fork；〃 and Bao Long could draw a bow with such force that he had been known to send an arrow through two tigers。 So strong were they； as well as bold。
They stood before Zhao Fan and said； 〃We will lead the way against Liu Bei。〃
The Governor replied； 〃I know that Liu Bei is of the imperial family； and Zhuge Liang is exceedingly resourceful。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are very bold。 But the mander of this force is Zhao Yun who； on one occasion； faced a hundred legions of Cao Cao and never blenched。 Our small force here cannot stand against such people。 We shall have to yield。〃
〃Let me go out to fight；〃 said Chen Ying。 〃If I cannot capture Zhao Yun； then you can yield。〃
The Governor could not resist him and gave his consent。 Then Chen Ying； with three thousand troops； went forth。 Soon the two armies came within sight of each other。 When Chen Ying's army was drawn up； he girded on his flying fork and rode to the front。 Zhao Yun gripped his spear and rode to meet him。
Zhao Yun began to rail at Chen Ying； saying； 〃My master is the brother of Liu Biao to whom belonged this land。 Now he is supporting his nephew； the heir and son of Liu Biao。 Having taken Jingzhou； I am e to soothe and fort the people here。 Why then do you oppose me？〃
〃We are supporters of the Prime Minister Cao Cao and are no followers of your master；〃 was the reply。
Zhao Yun； waxing angry； firmly grasped his spear and rode forward。 His opponent twirled the flying fork and advanced。 The horses met； but after four or five encounters Chen Ying； realizing that there was no hope of victory； turned and fled。 Zhao Yun followed。 Suddenly turning； Chen Ying got close to Zhao Yun and flung the fork。 Zhao Yun deftly caught it and threw it back。 Chen Ying dodged away； but Zhao Yun soon caught him up； seized； dragged him out of the saddle； and threw him to the ground。 Then Zhao Yun called up his soldiers； and they bound the prisoner。 Chen Ying was taken to the camp； while his troops scattered and fled。
〃I thought you would not dare a bat with me；〃 said Zhao Yun to the prisoner when they had returned to camp。 〃However； I am not going to put you to death。 You are free。 But persuade your master to yield。〃
Chen Ying asked pardon； put his hands over his head； and fled like a frightened rat。 When he reached his city； he told the Governor all these things。
〃My original desire was to yield； but you insisted on fighting； and this is what it has brought you to。〃
So spoke the Governor。 He bade Chen Ying begone and then prepared his letter of submission and put up his seal。 With a small party； Zhao Fan went out of the city and wended his way to Zhao Yun's camp。 Zhao Yun received him graciously； offered him wine； and then accepted the seal of office。
After the wine had gone round several times； Zhao Fan became talkative； saying； 〃General； your surname is the same as mine； and five centuries ago we were one family。 You are from Changshan； and so am I。 Moreover we are from the same village。 If you do not mind； we might swear brotherhood。 I should be very happy。〃
Zhao Yun was pleased and they pared ages。 They were of the same year。 However； Zhao Yun was the elder by four months； and so Zhao Fan made his bow as younger brother。 The two men； having so many things in mon； were very pleased with each other and seemed fitted to be close friends。
At eventide the feast broke up； and the late Governor returned to his dwelling。 Next day Zhao Fan requested Zhao Yun to enter the city； where； after Zhao Yun had assured the people of their safety； he went to a banquet at the state residence。 When they had bee mellow with wine； the Governor invited Zhao Yun into the inner quarters； where wine was again served。 When Zhao Yun was a little intoxicated； his host bade a woman e forth and offer a cup of wine to the guest。
The woman was dressed entirely in white silk； and her beauty was such as to overthrow cities and ruin states。
〃Who is she？〃 asked Zhao Yun。
〃My sister…in…law。 She is of the Fan family。〃
Zhao Yun at once changed his look and treated her with deference。 When she had offered the cup； the host told her to be seated and join the party； but Zhao Yun declined this addition to the evening； and the lady withdrew。
〃Why did you trouble your sister…in…law to present wine to me； brother？〃 asked Zhao Yun。
〃There is a reason；〃 said the host smiling。 〃I pray you let me tell you。 My brother died three years ago and left her a widow。 But this cannot be regarded as the end of the story。 I have often advised her to marry again； but she said she would only do so if three conditions were satisfied in one man's person。 The suitor must be famous for literary grace and warlike exploits； secondly； handsome and highly esteemed and； thirdly； of the same name as our own。 Now where in all the world was such a bination likely to be found？ Yet here are you； brother； dignified； handsome； and prepossessing； a man whose name is known all over the wide world and of the desired name。 You exactly fulfill my sister's ambitions。 If you do not find her too plain； I should like her to marry you and I will provide a dowry。 What think you of such an alliance； such a bond of relationship？〃
But Zhao Yun rose in anger； shouting； 〃As I have just sworn brotherhood with you； is not your sister…in…law my sister…in…law？ How could you think of bringing such confusion into the relationship？〃
Shame suffused Zhao Fan's face； and he said； 〃I only thought of being kind to you。 Why are you so very rude to me？〃
Zhao Fan looked right and left to his attendants with murder in his eye。 Zhao Yun raised his fist and knocked him down。
Then he strode out of the place； mounted； and rode out of the city。
Zhao Fan at once called in his two generals。
Chen Ying said； 〃He has gone away in a rage； which means that we shall have to fight him。〃
〃I greatly fear you will lose；〃 said Zhao Fan。
〃We will pretend to be deserters；〃 said Bao Long； 〃and so get among his soldiers。 When you challenge him； we will suddenly catch him。〃
〃We shall have to take some others with us；〃